Lantern



(No Model.)

N. MOD. CRAWFORD.

LANTERN.

No. 415,289. F Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

F'ETERS,-Phnlo-lflnnyapher. Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1 NORMAN MCI). CRA\VFORD, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,289,dated November 19, 1889.

fierial No. 300,009, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, NORMAN MoD. CRAW- FORD, of Harrisburg, county of Dauphin, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Lanterns, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of lanterns, and is especially, though not exclusively, adapted for railroad signal-lanterns.

My object is to provide a lantern which may be cheaply and strongly constructed, and which will be affected in the least degree by wind or by its own movements in the air.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter clearly pointed outin the claims, and will be best understood after a description of the drawings, which illustrate my invention as applied to a low-switch signallantern for railroad use.

Figure 1 is a'central sectional elevation of the lantern, and Fig. 2 a plan view of one half of the same on the line as a: of Fig. 1.

A is the oil-receptacle, which is permanently or detachably secured to the bottom plate B of the lantern, a indicating an annular flange secured to bottom B, and in which the receptacle A is placed.

B is a thimble secured in the center of bottom B, and adapted to be attached to the end of a signal-supporting rod. Around and below the edge of the bottom plate B an annular chamber H is formed by means of the plates B B", and B", which also form an an nular broadened base for the lantern. On the upper side of the base or bottom plate B, Isecure an upright flange 0, preferably annular in form, at some distance from the side of the oil-receptacle, so as to form a chamber S around said receptacle, and outside of this flange or wall I secure to the base-plate B a surrounding wall made up of an upright flange D, horizontal flange E, and upright flange or wall F, this last flange being con nected with the flange or wall Oby a covering-plate G, the plates C, D, E, F, and G inclosing an L-shaped chamber I I, the lower portion I of which is connected with the chamber S by means of perforations c c, &c.,

in the wall C, and preferably with the cham ber II by perforations b b, &c., through the bottom plate B, while the upper portion I is connected with the atmosphere by perforations 6 e, 850., formed in the horizontal flange E. The chamber H is connected with the atmosphere by means of the perforations 19 5 &c., formed in the inner wall B and I may here state that the chamber H may be dis pensed with and the chamber I connected with the atmosphere directly through the perforations I), though I prefer the construction as shown in the drawings. It will of course be understood that the different Walls or flanges referred to need not be formed of separate pieces of metal, but may be formed by spinning or stamping the metal in any convenient way and soldering or riveting it to'- gether to form the chambers S, I, I, and H.

J J, &c., are the side pieces of the lantern, each of them, as shown,being made of a separate piece of sheet metal with prolonged side edges or flanges J, which are bent outward from the sides proper at an angle of one hundred and thirty -five degrees and soldered or riveted together to form the targets K K, &c., which serve to screen the lenses and prevent more than one of them showing when the lantern is properly placed, this construction being at once cheap and exceedingly strong and durable.

L L, &c., are the lenses of the lantern; M, a plate secured on the top of the side pieces J, and having a circular flanged opening M in its center.

Hinged at N is the lantern-top, N being a catch for holding itin place. It is made up of cone 0, on the outside of which and some distance below its apex is secured a cap 0 with a conical top 0 Another cap with a closed top P P is secured on the outside of cone 0, so as to extend over and inclose the cap 0 0 forming a chamber around it, and preferably an annular chamber R is formed around the top of the inclosing-cap P P. The cones O and O are of course open at their tops, as shown, and perforations o 0, &c., are formed in the wall 0 of the cap at some distance below the top of cone 0.

In the wall I of the inclosing-cap P P perforations are formed, which should be below current of air being changed before it reaches 5 19 opening into the annular chamber R, which in turn connects with the atmosphere through perforations 1' '1', &c., formed in its walls, so as to be substantially at right angles with the perforations p. The lower row of perforations 29, I prefer to place, as shown, above the level of the perforations 0.

I The strength and simplicity of my improved lantern will be apparent "from the description already given. The air to supply combustion enters chamber I I through the perforations e in flange E, passing first into the upper portion I, thence downward in the opposite direction to which it enters into the portion I of said chamber, and thence through perforations 0 into the chamber S, which, being open at the top, permits it to pass freely into the lantern. Another portion of the supply enters the annular chamber H through perforations b thence it passes at right angles to the direction in which it enters said chamber into chamber I through the perforations 12, and thence, like the supply from above, it enters the chamber S through perforations c. An abundant supply is thus provided for, and it will be seen that no matter how strong the wind may blow on one side of the lantern or how rapidly the lantern may be moved in the air the direction of such air as may enter the supply-chambers is so frequently and entirely altered by the deflecting-walls of said chambers that before reaching the inside of the lantern the pressures are practically equalized in all directions and all undue velocity checked.

At the top of the lantern abundant space is provided for the escape of the products of combustion; but the orifices through which the gases are permitted to pass are so arranged an upward direction, or, if it passes downward, passing through the perforations 0 and striking on the conical surface 0, which also deflects it upward. By surrounding the perforations p, which are near the top of the cone-topped cap 0 0 with the chamber R, and forming the perforations 0" through the walls of such chamber in a direction at right angles to that of the perforations p, the direetion of an air-current blowing or being forced against the top of the lantern is changed and its pressure generally equalized before it passes inside of the cap P P. This is advisable where the perforations are so near the top of the cone 0 as is shown. The perforations 19 being formed so near the middle of the cone-topped cap 0 0 does not need the projecting chamber R, the direction of the either the top of the cone 0 or the perforations 0 0.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lantern, the combination of the oilchamber, a ring or wall C, surrounding said chamber to form a chamber S opening into the lantern, a chamber I I, formed around the wall 0, communicating with chamber S by perforations c c, 850., formed in wall 0 below the top of the oil-chamber, and with the air through perforations situated above or below perforations c, and in walls substantially at right angles to wall 0, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. I11 a lantern, the combination of the oilchamber, a ring or wall C, surrounding said chamber to form a chamber S opening into the lantern, a chamber I I, formed around the wall 0, an annular chamber H, formed around the bottom of chamber I I, said chambers S and I I communicating through perforations c 0, formed in wall 0 below the top of the oil-chamber, the chamber I I communicating directly with the air through perforations 6, formed in its wall E above and substantially at right angles to perforations c, and with chamber H through perforations b, formed in the wall B below and substantially at right angles to perforations c, and chamber 11, communicating with the air through perforations formed in its inner wall B all substantially as and for the purpose speci-u secured to its outer surface, and having per forations o 0, situated. below the level of the top of the cone 0, and an outer covered cap P P, surrounding cap 0 O and having perforations situated in it below the level of the top of cone 0 and in a different horizontal plane from the perforations 0 0, &c.

5. In a lantern, the deflecting-cone O, in combination with the cone-topped cap 0 0 secured to. its outer surface, and having perforations 0 0, situated below the level of the top of cone 0, and an outer covered cap P P, surrounding cap 0 O and having perforations situated in it below the level of the top of cone 0 and above the perforations 0 in cap 0', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a lantern, the deflecting-cone O, in combination with the cone-topped cap 0 0 secured to its outer surface, and having perforations 0 0, situated below the level of the top of cone 0, an outer covered cap P P, having perforations formed in it below the level of the top of cone 0 and above the level of the perforations 0 o, &c., and an annular chamber R, surrounding the perforations in cap P P, and having perforations formed in it substantially at right angles to the same, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a lantern, the deflecting-cone O, in combination with the cone-topped cap 0 0 secured to its outer surface, and having perforations 0 o, situated below the level of the top of cone 0, an outer covered cap P P, having perforations 29 formed in it below the level of the top of cone 0 an annular cham- NORMAN MOD. CRAWFORD.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES C. KULP, GEORGE W. TAYLOR. 

